Beat the Heat

I know it´s only the beginning of June, but you´re all going to have to indulge me for a bit. My aunt´s air conditioning has been busted for the past week, and I´ve been schvitzing like a pudding at a picnic. Not that I wish I was buried under 5 feet of snow right now, but I miss the air conditioning! And yes, it does get hot here in Canada, contrary to popular belief; unless you want to live in Nunavut where you can enjoy the arctic climate, pretty much year round.  Thankfully the new AC unit is being installed tomorrow morning.

In the meantime, I´ve been craving not only citrus, but fruit. I think I am desperately in need of a fragrance shrink, because my scent schizophrenia seems to be out of control lately. Last week, I posted on my Facebook page that I woke up wanting to smell like a fruit salad.

Well, I did indulge in a bit of a drive-by “fruiting” at Bath and Body Works.  I went in, just to appease this ridiculous craving of mine, and damned if I didn´t walk out with a “Buy Three Get Two Free” bag o´ goodies. I have to say, what I bought really hit the spot, and it didn´t cost me the proverbial arm and a leg. Their new White Citrus scent has the perfect bit of sharp, tangy ginger and it doesn´t pull the disappearing act most citrus scents tend to.  And, I finally bought that bottle of Sweet Pea Forever, the one with the cute little peace sign on it. If you want fruit salad, that one is fruit salad in a bottle.  Check out their new Exfoliating Shower Gels; three tubes completed the BOGO deal, and they´re pretty awesome if you´re into body wash/scrub/shower gel.

The real surprise discovery for me is Burberry Sport For Women. Like Kevin over at NST (he reviewed Burberry Sport For Men on Wednesday), I´m well aware that “sport” fragrances are generally scoffed at.  I was turned off of sport scents rather early on, traumatized as a teenager by à” de Lancà´me Pour Le Sport. Now, I see they´ve dropped the “Pour Le Sport” from the name, but I am reluctant to go near it again. I doubt it smells anything like I remember, but honestly, I’ve got bigger fish to fry.

Burberry Sport for Women´s notes include mandarin, sea salt, vetiver, freesia, honeysuckle and something called “Solar Sand Notes”. What it boils down to is a tangy, slightly floral citrus, with the clean saltiness I love in certain summer scents. Two of my hot weather faves are Bond No. 9 Hamptons, and Antonia´s Flowers Sogni del Mare.  I wouldn´t go out of my way to purchase a bottle of Burberry Sport for Women, but at least I know the whole “sport” category of fragrance seems to be undergoing a bit of a makeover.  The bottle is in keeping with the casual sporty vibe this fragrance attempts to convey, and it is rather charming. I like the contrast of the red glass with the white rubberized material, and the rectangular shape. The women´s version also comes with a red rubberized bracelet around the cellophane wrapping; just what we need – another LiveStrong rip-off. But, all in all, it is wearable and gets all nice and salty on my schvitzy skin. Once I´m back hanging in the meat locker, (as much of a meat locker as my aunt will allow) I´ll have to go back and try it again.

So, who here likes salt? Do you like a salty rim around your margarita, salt and vinegar chips, or a salty fragrance on your skin? Speak up please…

Disclosure: White Citrus and Sweet Pea Forever are part of my personal collection. Burberry Sport for Women was sampled at The Bay.

0 0 votes
Article Rating
94 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
16 years ago

funny post, great blog, keep up the posts!

16 years ago

Boy, that is some high-class web page

16 years ago

I am a big Sunkissed Citrus fan myself!

mi-cuit
16 years ago

I HAVE to recommend Guerlain’s Pamplelune as the ultimate hot weather scent. I’m not sure if it’s been reformulated since its initial release, but the bottle I have now just smells heavenly and cuts right through the heat and the sweat. It starts off with the longest lasting citrus note that I have ever encountered in fragrance and then slowly transforms into a fluorescent (but not loud or harsh or chemical) pink floral. Perfect.

Ann N.
16 years ago
Reply to  mi-cuit

Yum! That’s a good one — had forgotten all about it! Thakns for the reminder …

nozknoz
16 years ago

Nava, forgot to say how much I LOVE that picture! @};-

Ann N.
16 years ago

Great post, Nava. Sure hope the A/C folks come early and you can crank it up into overdrive, sit back and chill out. Living here in hot, humid Georgia, I feel for you. A/C is an absolute necessity! I, too, enjoy the salty/beachy appeal of Eau des Merveilles and had quite forgotten about Bond 9 Hamptons — will have to go dig up my sample of that. I love all the chatter about great salty foods; fleur de sel caramels and chocolates are among my faves. Michael Recchiuti Chocolates, out of San Francisco, does amazing ones and their burnt caramel chocolates are mighty fine, too! I will definitely have to look up the Lindt ones as well.

Ann N.
16 years ago
Reply to  Nava

I didn’t like EdM much when it first came out, but at a friend’s urging, I tried it again recently and it has grown on me. Ironically enough, we had quite the cold winter here with nearly a week when temps did not rise above freezing. So this year it looks like we’re getting high power bills winter AND summer, with only a few months’ break in spring and late fall. Ah, but let me indulge in some salt, chocolate and caramel and all weather woes will be forgotten. 🙂

Admin
16 years ago
Reply to  Nava

Ya know … that surprises me about Merveilles, reading further comments. I thought for some reason I was the only person who found it salty. It’s very sexy in a subtle way, too.

16 years ago
Reply to  Ann N.

Another Recchiuti fan! Yay! I love that Michael weaves a ribbon of extremely fine FdS into the chocolate, rather than a coarse sprinkle. And his Burnt Caramel Almonds, with that vague, salty hit. TJ’s has salty chocolate-covered almonds, too, but theirs are too salty, imo. I’m not a fan of a LOT of salt, preferring just a hint of it to bring out the sweet.

^:)^ Recchiuti!

xoxo >-)

Ann N.
16 years ago
Reply to  Musette

Hi Musette! Yes, indeedy, Michael is da bomb! I usually go out to San Francisco every year in late May/early June and stop by his Ferry Building store and load up, but alas, my jobless situation has put the kibosh on it this year (and that extra hot-weather shipping charge is too much for my wallet). Haven’t tried the Burnt Caramel Almonds but come cooler weather, I will definitely put them on my list! Thanks!

16 years ago
Reply to  Ann N.

Ann,

You are in the same boat as moiself, alas. Back when I was in SF once a month, minimum, I took Recchiuti for granted. And Miette (their chocolate sables are the stuff of dreams). Now I rarely get there (not jobless – working like a fiend on our biz – but few disposable simoleans). Several good friends live in SF but they are mean and carp about having to go get them and mail them out – and right now that’s a Bad Idea, as you nebber know what the weather’s going to be like.

There’s a Certain Thelma here who was incredibly wonderful to me – she went to SF for a family trip and was so kind as to stop at the FB and pick stuff up – I tried to make it as easy as possible (sent packing stuff and paid airbills and had the stuff ready for pickup) but still, the slog over to the FB, if that ain’t your thang, is a pain. And just the willingness to do that was so lovely!

As opposed to the Mean Folks who LIVE THERE and won’t do it :-w [-(

And yes! on the shipping. There’s something very offputting about having the SHIPPING cost more than the actual goods, innit?

But def yes on the BC Almonds. Do yourself a favor, though – get several bags. Srsly. You will HATE yourself if you only get one.

xoxox >-)

Ann N.
16 years ago
Reply to  Musette

Yep, you and I are on the same page. When the shipping charge outweighs the cost of the product, I bow out. Haven’t tried the sables at Miette — that’ll be another must-do!
I never minded too much bringing back some stuff (as long as I could fit it all in my carry-on and didn’t get kicked off the plane). If I get out there again, I will happily get some goodies for you. After all, what’s a little postage between perfume lovers? (You’re not in Antarctica, though, are you?) ;))

16 years ago
Reply to  Ann N.

no! I hate the cold. Which is why it’s so blitheringly stupid that I am in Illinois (we are looking at a tornado warning – again – just had one pass through about 15 minutes ago – but at least it’s not freezing right now. Love the humidity)

And ditto re your stuff. La Belle Thelma was such a Princess to do it for me – gotta pay it forward. Click on my name whenev – whichever one of us gets out there first is IT!

xoxo >-)

Ann N.
16 years ago
Reply to  Musette

You got a deal!

maggiecat
16 years ago

Salt? I love salt! How much? Just look at my blood pressure… I seriously love Caldrea’s Neroli and Sea Salt home products (hand and dish soap, hand lotion, assorted cleaning products) and have been using them lavishly for a couple of months. The salt belnds beautifully with the neroli and lemon notes. It almost…almost, mind you…makes cleaning fun!

Brooke Alexandra
16 years ago

My all time favorite salty skin scent is Oilily Spanish Rose. Too bad it’s been discontinued…

Tara C
16 years ago

I love the salty caramel/dark chocolate/almond bark they have at Godiva. Yum! Salty fragrances, not as much… the only ones I have that make me think of salt are Sel de Vetiver and Eau des Merveilles. I wear Mandragore in the scorching heat and don’t use the AC except for dire circumstances… I like the swampy heat of a Montreal summer.

Aparatchick
16 years ago

I’m so glad to see the love for White Citrus! I bought some last summer and it was a winner in a hot, sweltering summer. Very refreshing, and the shower gel is the perfect “hey, wake up!” thing that I need in the morning.

I’m not much for salt in food (and a good thing that is too, with my family history of high blood pressure!), but I like it just fine in perfume. Eau des Merveilles, especially. I’m wearing Bois Naufrage today, but not really getting any salty note in it.

Louise
16 years ago
Reply to  Nava

Ice cream scooped up with chips/crisps 😡

16 years ago

Adore Sel de Vetiver, and a few other salty fragrances whose titles don’t come to mind right this second. Salted anything! Potato chips, margaritas (especially the non-frozen, austere kind tart with lime), sea salt caramels. Yum.

maidenbliss
16 years ago

Saltaholic chiming in. Lindt’s has A touch of Sea Salt bars? Oh, that’s on my list. However, I would take salty chips, smoked almonds over sugar any day, but not those salt & vinegar chips, they make me pucker 😡
AF sample set is a sweet deal for $5 w free shipping, but only one worked for me and can’t remember which is was. I’m curious about the Burberry and might be nice for the blanket of humidity covering these mountains.
I love laying on warm sand at the ocean with that sea salt sandy smell all over my arms. Heaven.
I really need the Bond Hamptons,
I don’t use my AC unless it’s unbearable, but when you’re not given the choice–ouch!

JAntoinette
16 years ago

I am a salty lass myself 😉 I love salty scotch, and I will pass up chocolate for salty any day, unless it’s Vosges Barcelona chocolate – smoked almonds and Fleur de Sel in milk chocolate-yum! (I think they also have a bacon and chocolate bar…) And I can’t have my watermelon without salt on it, though I get some strange looks when I ask for salt to go with the watermelon here in France!

Now after all this briny fume talk I may have to go digging through my samples to see what I have to fit the bill!

Admin
16 years ago
Reply to  Nava

SALTY CHOCOLATE IS THE BEST. Just saying. Love the Vosges Barcelona. Other folks make salty bars too. And salty brownies and salty caramels are wonderful.

Sorry for the late comment, I’ve had an old college friend (hey, I’m old too!) in town for the weekend.

The only fragrance I can think of that I enjoy that’s salty but not “marine” is Eau de Merveilles. Actually… Rosine Ecume de Rose (a beach-rose) was pretty great. Haven’t seen that in forever.

Ann N.
16 years ago
Reply to  JAntoinette

Yum! That Vosges Barcelona bar is to die for, but the bacon and chocolate one, for me, not so much …

janh
16 years ago
Reply to  Nava

If that’s not the saying, it should be!

Admin
16 years ago
Reply to  Ann N.

I gave the Bacon Bar to two different folks who gave it back to me and said, ugh, no thanks!

karin
16 years ago

Love salt! Latest obsession? Salt in dark chocolate. First found it in Lindt’s A Touch of Sea Salt bars. If anyone has other suggestions for dark chocolate/salt combos (not caramel), do tell! Also love bacon, though I have to say I haven’t tried the latest craze – chocolate and bacon. Afraid, I tell ya.

As for salt in perfume, don’t know that I’ve smelled any so-called salty scents. Commented above that I’d love to try MH’s Fleurs de Sel, but it doesn’t seem to be easy to find.

karin
16 years ago
Reply to  Nava

I discovered those Lindt bars at Target (of all places)!

16 years ago
Reply to  karin

Poco dolce chocolate tiles in different flavors all have sea salt on the top. See: http://www.pocodolce.com/.

My favorites are the almond and the burnt caramel. The aztec (chili pepper) is interesting. The ginger–I don’t know–somehow ginger, chocolate, and salt does really work for me.

Admin
16 years ago
Reply to  karin

VOSGES GOJI BAR. Goji berries and “pink Himalayan salt.” I thought it sounded stupid. The Earth Moved, I’m telling you.

karin
16 years ago
Reply to  March

I could stand with some earth moving! Will try. Thanks, March!

marko
16 years ago

Maybe there’s something in the air???? I almost spit my coffee out reading your post!!!! About a month ago, I went through the EXACT same thing as you, and PURCHASED the EXACT SAME THINGS as you from B&BW……but my “fruity” spending excursion also included a bottle of the Women’s Burberry Sport!!!!…..weird, huh (it had just come out that weekend and I was accosted by the women in the fragrance department at Macy’s….I TOO was attracted to that weird “salty” thing….).

Anyway, I love the White Citrus – it’s a great not-sure-what-to-wear-cause-it’s-gonna-be-a-scorcher-today fragrance (not crazy about the deep dry down – starts to smell a little “off” and “synthetic-y” on me – but reapplying always solves that problem!) The Sweet Pea I’ve already given away….it was just TOO sweet/fruity, and the Burberry I’ve only worn a few times.

As far as other “salty” notes, I like the saltiness of Balmain’s Ambre Gris – lots of folks complain about the sweetness of this scent, but laying under that sweetness is a wonderful musky saltiness (at least on my skin).

Ann N.
16 years ago
Reply to  Nava

Hi Nava, I have a little Ambre Gris and I’ll happily send you a bit to try if you’d like. Just let me know …

16 years ago

Love salt. Entirely. In scent, in food, on food, on the rim of my glass.

Back in the day, my Papa used to salt his cantaloupe. I thought he was nuts…but if he could see me with my sea salt chocolate…

Poor maligned sport scent. Didn’t Estee Lauder start that? Or was she just one who brought one out, and it was unusual in that it was for women? (Too lazy/too aware of what I’m stealing time from to Google right now…) Anyway, I sneak spritzes from DH’s Sel et Vetiver, and covet Sel Marin, and will generally jump straight to (small) decant if anything “sel” comes out from a decent house.

Did I mention I like salt on the rim? /:)

gator grad
16 years ago

I find Week-end a Deauville salty… a salty floral. But I think I’m the only one that smells it that way. I’m not sure what note it is that creates that for me, but I *love* it.

Salty florals… doesn’t that sound good??

Haunani
16 years ago
Reply to  gator grad

I love salty florals! Gres Cabaret and Ecume de Rose are both salty roses, to my nose, and I love the salty lily of Vanille Galante!

16 years ago

I llluuurrrvvveee salt on food, and so far the blood pressure is fine. (Don’t much like it on rims of glasses though.) I miss swimming in the cold briny Pacific — the Gulf waters are like soup. That would be the gulf of Mexico, er, Texaco.

Here in the sultry southeast we drink Iced tea all day. I make it with mint. But anyway…right…salty fragrances. I guess the heat is getting to my brain. Um, I’m not sure I could really identify it? I have a mini of vintage Fendi coming, and that’s supposed to be a salty amber. We’ll see.

But I do really like O de Lancome for summer. It’s like a stronger 4711 that actually lasts for awhile.

Melissa
16 years ago

I’m not much of a salt fan in fragrances, but I haven’t done much exploration. I should try the ones that have been touted here. I’d probably like them. One little known salty guy sits in my collection and beckons to me on really hot days. Ferre Bergamotto Marino edc has bergamot, white florals, a (very light) melon note (hey, it’s a Pierre Bourdon) and black currant on a base of mahagony, oakmoss, seaweed, musk and ambergris. And it really does remind me of the sea.

Even though I don’t envy you for the lack of AC, I’m craving a little time outdoors in the heat. I’ve been wearing some of my hot weather faves (Amaranthine, AG Tubereuse) and they just don’t bloom on the skin in a dry, air-conditioned workplace. 🙁

16 years ago

I llluuurrrvvveee salt on food, and so far the blood pressure is fine. (Don’t much like it on rims of glasses though.) I miss swimming in the cold briny Pacific — the Gulf waters are like soup. That would be the gulf of Texaco, er, Mexico.

Here in the sultry southeast we drink Iced tea all day. I make it with mint. But anyway…right…salty fragrances. I guess the heat is getting to my brain. Um, I’m not sure I could really identify it? I have a mini of vintage Fendi coming, and that’s supposed to be a salty amber. We’ll see.

But I do really like O de Lancome for summer. It’s like a stronger 4711 that actually lasts for awhile.

Haunani
16 years ago
Reply to  Nava

I’ve got to try that Hamptons!

16 years ago

You may see a :@) here. I see slabs of baaaaaacon.

Baaaacon.

Other than baaaacon I’m not a huge salt-lover, preferring my margaritas rimless and my potato chips not overloaded (though a hint of salt is a good and wonderful thing).

The only salty perfumes I like ( I think – there may be more) are that Heeley one – Selmarine? And that only on the hottest day imaginable – and TDC’s Sublime Balkiss, which has a hint of salt sprinkled on those berries.

Sweets must be very dark – unless they are Recchiuti Fleur de Sel caramels, in which case they can be any way Michael and his elves make ’em up!

I’m not one for AC except under dressy conditions so I cannae commiserate with you much……hot hot x( is the perfect excuse for an icy lemonade!

xoxo >-)

16 years ago
Reply to  Nava

I have a decant of the Sogni del Mare. Naturally, I amp the flowers.

There is no such thing as a life where you have to choose between bacon and A/C. Right? Because you’re starting to make me nervous…but I’m kinda with Musette on this one. I feel…weird? like I can’t breathe fully?…in air conditioning. I think I would have done well in the days when you’d go to the movies in order to get a break in “refrigerated air”….

Bunny
16 years ago

Ack! No air conditioning last week would have been awful! I was walking on Bloor on Sunday and the back of my t-shirt was all wet… which is always a classy way to walk into Holts to buy that unseasonable bottle of Chinatown ;))

I swear that none of the stores I went in had A/C running. It was just sweltering. Good thing I like salty food, gotta retain those electrolytes! 😉

Louise
16 years ago

I like salt in my scent; in my food, not so much. Give me sweet anytime 8-|

I do have a mad crush on Acqua di Sale, and finally splurged on first a decant, now a bottle. It’s got a bit of a raunchy seaweed opening, then blooms into a salty light floral-perfect in the heat. I love Sel de Vet as well, though more on a certain gentleman than on me.

Other heated favs-Miller&Bertaux Greeeeeeeen, and AA Ansia Bella-the latter turning into a long-lasting citrus after a brief flirtation with the anise note.

Hmmmm, must try the White Citrus-nothin’ wrong with a little BBW 😮

Happy Weekend, all 😉

Louise
16 years ago
Reply to  Louise

Oh, wait! Do caramel/fleur de sel treats count as salty??? I’m in 😉

16 years ago
Reply to  Louise

Those totally count, right? Maybe now you can salt the rim of your bottle of Angel…

Madea
16 years ago

I love bacon and chocolate with fleur de sel.

The BF is captain of the University sailing team, and the smell of his gear when he gets back from pratice in Lake Ponchatrain is amazing, sort of a salty, murky smell with an edge of vegetation.

Is that a sport scent?:d

audrey
16 years ago

loooooove salt in every form, and when I read that Vanille Gallante had a salty note I HAD to buy it. It really does have that salty feel to it, and yet holds on to that summery quality with that faint wisp of vanilla and fruits that don’t become cloying, but rather refreshing. I love it.
Sports scents: wha? I still associate them with over the top citrus and great lashes of ozone. I’ll need more convincing before I ever assume that one will work on me. The closest thing I come to sporty on myself is Terre De Hermes or Trance Essence Chen Xi (which is not a sporty scent at all but it does have a beautiful lemongrass note, which I usually don’t like but it WORKS in Chen Xi)

CynthiaW
16 years ago
Reply to  Nava

Not even salty, Stargazer Lily? That’s what I get – salty lilies.

Lee
16 years ago

Two already mentioned are hot weather faves for me – Sel de Vet (best in prpoerly HOT weather) and Fleurs de Sel (best when hot but not HOT – and my dacant is empty, I tells ya!).

I like salty more than sweet, but tend to be a little austere with my intake. Best salty for me are roasted almonds with smoked paprkia and seasalt. Oh yeah baybee.

Good luck with that Perfume MPD.

Tammy
16 years ago
Reply to  Nava

“I would lick salt off the ground if given the opportunity”

=))

Ditto!!!

And around those “times” I’ll take an extra side of grease along with it, with a choclate chaser.

PS….if you have really intense salt cravings on an ongoing baisis, have your thyroid checked.

karin
16 years ago
Reply to  Lee

Oooh! I’ve SO wanted to try those sel scents. Have been curious why MH doesn’t sell FdS in the US? I can’t find it anywhere online anyway. Though I’ve read they’ve had distributor issues, true? Could this be the problem, or is there another reason?

nozknoz
16 years ago
Reply to  karin

Karin, I wondered the same thing, since FdS sounds so good. I believe Lee commented a couple of months ago that this one is only sold in the UK. I think I’ve seen it on ebay but it was very expensive. I keep meaning to order a sample from TPC….

Lee
16 years ago
Reply to  nozknoz

Unfortunately, the Nouvelles range does seem to be only available, directly from Miller Harris… Sorry to say. I thought it was gonna be distributed further afield, once upon a time…

http://millerharris.com/nouvelle/

CynthiaW
16 years ago

Oh dear – I tend to avoid sports scents like the plague, but solar sand and salt has me intrigued. My favorite parts for both Alien and Bronze Goddess are the warm sand smell they both get. So, despite my previous trauma both with sporty scents and with Burberry Weekend (a truly horrific scrubber on me), I’ll have to give this a sniff if I see it.

mary
16 years ago

A friend gave me some chocolates, filled with caramel, and sprinkled with sea salt. 😡 Yum. I like the salty note in the Leslie Blodgett Bare Skin perfume

Lilybug
16 years ago
Reply to  Nava

Like Dutch licorice? I looooove Dutch licorice. And slightly salty butterscotch. The family I married into (husband included) is disgusted by my tastes 😉

Millicent
16 years ago

I love salty food, much more of a favorite indulgence than sweet food and can easily walk away from chocolate while popcorn has me in a corner hogging the whole bowl.

Salty fragrance is fun in hot weather. I live in Malaysia, where it’s around 90F/30+C all year round, and it’s just too boring to wear citrus every day. Sel de Vetiver is interesting (until I remember why I hate vetiver), as is Parfums de Rosine Ecume. I ordered a decant of Fleurs de Sel twice from TPC, but had bad luck with the mail here and now just imagine that’s the perfect hot weather scent:((

nozknoz
16 years ago

Adore bacon, Doritos, marcona almonds, and popcorn – all of which I have forsworn for the sake of my heart. Sigh! I find vetiver is often salty and most likely GOOD for the heart, I imagine! =:)

16 years ago
Reply to  Nava

Bacon Doritos?!?? :d/ Oh, never mind…

😉

nozknoz
16 years ago
Reply to  Shelley

There WILL be bacon Doritos in heaven, I’m sure of it! :@)